Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
If you've had an experience about tolerance or peace-building that you'd like to share online, there's an avenue for you to take.
Time of the Poet Republic, a global online journal with roots of diversity, inclusivity and creativity is calling for submissions of poems and short stories for publication at the end of July.
Mbizo Chirasha, a UNESCO-Rila poet in exile from Zimbabwe, founded the journal. He teamed up with Jasper-Hinton writer, Darcie Friesen Hossack to bring Canada into this global partnership. Their pairing started on Facebook, then Chirasha published a short story by Friesen Hossack in the journal.
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Friesen Hossack is organizing an issue of the journal that will feature an all-Canadian lineup of writers, and has invited Canadians to submit 20-line poems - although she's "not terribly picky" about the number of lines - and 500 to 1,000 word fiction work.
The issue's theme is tolerance of diversity, ideas, race and culture, and themes of peace building and international integration.
"This is the kind of thing, if people are writing about what they know, what they've experienced," Friesen Hossack said.
She said she's hoping to hear from First Nations, Black Lives Matter, Refugee, LGBTQ+ and other writers who have lived experience of these themes 鈥渁nd can bring so much to a better, global understanding of one another".
"But they are not exclusive; everyone is welcome," she said.
The deadline is approaching. Submissions must be in by July 20 to [email protected].
Friesen Hossack and Chirasha will make the selections and publish 15 of the submissions.
poet in exile from Zimbabwe,
founded the journal.
| Supplied photo
Friesen Hossack said: "If we get hundreds, we'll consider them. These can be previously published. This is going to be global; it's putting out Canada's best."
The chosen pieces will be published on July 26 on Time of the Poet Republic website.
Friesen Hossack noted to be considered, "You have to be a Canadian resident of some kind; if your feet are on Canadian soil, you're included."
This is an important initiative, she said, "because the goal of all of this is being together - global communities of writers - and through the power of written [words] promote peace and tolerance, unity."
